A Season of Gifts

By guest writer, Dianna Carroll.

A highlight of every Christmas season is gift giving. Miraculously, that tradition began with God at creation! Our perfect universe derived from God’s creative hand, and God Himself pronounced it very good: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17, NIV).

A Global Custom Giving gifts is a worldwide practice, finding its most significant expression

at Christmas. For instance, Matthew's

gospel tells of wise men bearing gold,

frankincense, and myrrh for the Christ

Child. The joyful tidings of the angels

singing, “Glory to God in the highest"

echo through choruses worldwide who

repeat those lyrics in various languages.

Families share the joy of giving even if they do not recognize the

“reason for the season.”

The concept of “giving” is a recurring theme in Scripture where the word “give” and similar terms appear at least 2,100 times. The first appearance is in connection with light. God gave heavenly lights to shine on the earth, for He is the Father of Lights. With this light, we experience His wondrous creation. When Christ was born, the shepherds saw the glory of God shining all around them (Luke 2:9), the wise men saw His star (Matthew 2:2), and John testified that the True Light had come (John 1:9). Today, the remembrance of Christ’s birth is marked by abundant illumination, from evergreen trees to window displays. Even the Jew’s celebration of Hanukkah is a “festival of lights.”

Seven New Testament Gifts of God

There are several specific gifts mentioned in Scripture. The first is the gift of God. When Jesus encountered the Samaritan woman drawing water from a well, Jesus told her, “‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water’ (John 4:10).    

The second is the Gift of the Holy Spirit. This divine presence gave the apostles the power to witness and to perform miracles in God’s name—a power observed and coveted by onlookers: “Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!’” (Acts 8:18-20).

The third is the gift of salvation. No one on his own can save himself by good works or wishful thinking. Salvation comes by God’s grace and mercy: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

The fourth is the gift of eternal life. Jesus’ death on the cross paid for our sins, setting believers free from eternal condemnation: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Gifts of ability, confidence, and reward

The fifth is the gift of abilities. God’s gracious gifts are available to all believers. The Apostle Paul declared each as beneficial: “I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another” (1 Corinthians 7:7). 

The sixth is the gift of confidence in love. God’s power can strengthen believers, so that they no longer obey their sinful desires but instead, seek to serve and please God:  “For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:6-7). In the first century, the threat of Roman persecution escalated under Nero’s rule. Yet God had already given believers the spiritual resources necessary for every trial. Human fear arises from earthly circumstances, but God offers power, love, and self-control as an antidote to fear. 

The seventh gift is Christ’s rewards.  This gift is described in Revelation 22:12 when John explains that Christ will return to reward His faithful servants. He is the Great Giver before the beginning of time, at the end of time, and for all eternity. All God’s gifts are good, perfect, and eternal! The phrase “gifts of God” stresses this wonderful truth in Romans 11:29, which says, “For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.” These gifts will be ours to treasure for all of eternity.

Call to Faith

During this Christmas season, as you share your gifts and enjoy the beautiful lights, remember the Father of Lights, the Great Giver of all good and perfect gifts: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). After contemplating this great gift of salvation and the love that determined it, the only response you can have is one of praise and wonder for our Great Giver!  Throughout this Christmas season, think about God’s many gifts mentioned in His Word and those He has personally given to you: “Thanks be unto God for his inexpressible gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

Lord, thank You for Your magnificent gift of salvation.

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When Dianna Carroll became a Christian at twenty-one, she felt that God had given her a second chance at life. Later, she served alongside her husband, Glen Moffitt, who pastored Mountain View Baptist Church for several years. In 2000, the Lord called the couple to plant churches in Utah as well as to encourage pastors and missionaries serving there.

Sadly, Glen succumbed to pancreatic cancer in 2002 at age forty-nine. Dianna asked herself, “What do I do now?” Life for her family became difficult during that year, but the Lord helped them through every trial. Some years later, Dianna met Jerry, a godly man the Lord sent her way. After marrying in 2005, the couple now serve in leadership and teaching positions.

In 2009, Dianna began ministry at a state facility for women suffering from substance abuse. Every week, she and others taught the Bible, imparting the gospel and supplying incarcerated women with discipleship materials to help them grow in Christ. In addition, Dianna has shared her life’s story at women’s retreats and for various fellowship groups. Currently, she gives readings from her devotional book, Discovering Grace in Despair: Finding Hope in Christ When All Hope Seems Gone, on Key Radio, a local Christian station. Readers can follow Dianna on her weekly blog at www.diannasdiary.com.